Media, advocates and the public are familiar with the main argument for the passage of the DREAM Act. We know that every year 65,000 high school students graduate without a clear path to higher education due to their legal status. However, many times we forget to discuss the situation of a certain group of Dreamers: the college graduates.
Dreamers come face to face with the harsh reality of their legal status at various stages in their lives. First, when they are seniors in high schools, many of them realize that they are undocumented and have to struggle to attend college. For the few who are able to gain access to and afford college, another hit with reality happens during their senior year. Just like their peers, dreamers must start applying for internships, sheltering the dim hope to land a good job offer. In my case, after many failed attempts at applying for internships and jobs, I had to lower my expectations a notch. (I have to confess that it was bold and idealistic of me to think that companies such as Goldman Sachs, Deloitte and KPMG would overlook the social security requirement). I was fortunate to obtain an administrative job in a small start-up company. Many fellow dreamers, who are college graduates with bachelor’s, master’s and even doctoral degrees, have been forced to settle for low-paying jobs in the restaurant, domestic and clerical administration fields.
However, the obstacles are not bound to career limitations. What is one of the most sought-after dreams of young people? To travel! Young people have the energy, desire and passion to get to know the world, other places and cultures. Yes, a dreamer can travel to neighboring states and cities – although this has now become riskier with the increased enforcement regulations placed by ICE and CBP. Dreamers can’t travel abroad and additionally have to see and hear their peers, friends and colleagues discuss their latest vacation trip overseas. Then, the dreaded question comes: “So where have you traveled recently?” or “when was the last time you visited your family in your home country?” Getting questions like these is very frustrating. I have grown used to listen to these conversations, seem like I am interested, yet keep my spirits up and unaffected. Many of the “lies” outlined in a recent dreamactivist.org article come in handy at those times!
There are many more “menial” restraints that a dreamer has to deal with, for example, not being able to obtain a driver’s license, having to show your passport when you want to get in to a club or cash a check (passport is the only government-issued identification that many agencies will accept), being unable to review your credit report because credit reporting agencies can’t read your “social security” number (which in reality is your ITIN), or simply being unable to donate blood.
It is challenging to live with all these restrictions. Luckily, we have used these limitations as a source of strength and a motivation to continue fighting. However, this struggle undoubtedly has an emotional toll on young professionals, who do not see an end to this wait.
This is a plea to our congressmen and executive administration to pass the DREAM Act soon. There is a significant pool of young professionals who are ready to contribute to this nation’s labor force. We can’t keep waiting anymore!
